What do you do after you release a version of your most famous sportscar that brought a heap of new tricks to make it an acclaimed track-focussed weapon? Well, if you are Porsche, you double down on it and release an even crazier version – so now we have the GT3 RS trim of the new 992 generation.
The new 911 GT3 RS has been unveiled by the German automaker this week, and we saw it coming from a mile away. The GT3 RS has become a staple of the most desired (and speculated on) 911s and represents what Porsche can do best in terms of a fast track car that can still have licence plates. So needless to say it is often used as their technology flagship.
The vanilla (if we can even call it that) 992 GT3 was the first 911 to introduce a double wishbone setup in the front suspension, an upgrade that made its way from the purebred racecars to the street ones. Now, one of the big cards up the 992 GT3 RS’s sleeve shares the same origin – a new cooling system replaces the three-radiator layout seen in previous cars with a large, angled centre radiator in the car’s nose, positioned where the luggage compartment is located on other 911 models.
Continuously adjustable wing elements in the front and on the two-part rear wing that is taller than the car’s roof provide 409 kg of total downforce at 200 km/h. This means that the new 911 GT3 RS generates twice as much downforce as its 991.2-generation predecessor and three times as much as a current 911 GT3. At 285 km/h, total downforce is 860 kg.
To further amplify the drag-defying dynamics, a DRS (drag reduction system) has been fitted for the first time in a production Porsche. It allows the wings to be flattened out at the push of a button, and the airbrake function is activated during emergency braking at high speeds, creating a “parachute effect” that supports the action of the brakes. Even the suspension arms, which are now longer to accommodate the 29mm wider track, are now aerodynamically designed to increase downforce. All of these aerodynamic elements can be tuned by the driver through the use of drive modes and selector dials. In Track mode, the basic settings can all be individually adjusted, including rebound and compression damping of the front and rear axles.
The 4.0-litre high-revving naturally aspirated engine has been further optimised over the 911 GT3, increasing power to 386 kW through the use of camshafts with modified cam profiles. The excellent PDK gearbox has also been updated to bring a shorter overall gear ratio than the 911 GT3. This powertrain combination brings the 911 GT3 RS from zero to 100 km/h in a claimed 3.2 seconds. However, the non-RS GT3 was tested to do it in 2.9 seconds, so we will very likely see quicker numbers. Top speed is claimed as 296 km/h in seventh gear.
Weight has always been a priority for the RS models. This time around, Porsche relied on extensive use of CFRP to achieve the impressive weight of 1,450 kg. The doors, front wings, roof, front lid, and even the standard full bucket seats are all CFRP.
When it comes to its interior, we see the typical RS styling we’ve come to expect: a mix of black leather, Racetex (Porsche’s version of Alcantara) and carbon-weave finish. At no extra cost, you can check the Clubsport package box and include a steel rollover bar, a hand-held fire extinguisher and six-point seat belts for the driver.
For those wanting the ultimate GT3 RS, there is also the Weissach package. Choose that and get the front lid, roof, parts of the rear wing and the exterior mirrors with a carbon-weave finish. Many elements are made out of carbon, including the rollover bar, which saves around six kilograms compared with the steel version and is a first for them.
And that’s not all – choosing the Weissach package gets the buyer magnetised PDK paddle shifters. This motorsport tech makes gear changes even more dynamic thanks to a more precise pressure point and a clearly perceptible click. And to top it all off, there are also the magnesium forged wheels, which save another eight kilograms of unsprung mass.
As seen with other recent Porsche models (inclusing the Sally Carrera 911), the GT3 RS is being offered with an exclusive Porsche Design Chronograph. This mechanical watch is reserved for owners of the car and is based on a glass-bead blasted titanium case and a mechanical Porsche Design chronograph calibre WERK 01.200, which has been COSC-certified for its high accuracy.
The 992 Porsche 911 GT3 RS is available for order now and the MSRP in Germany kicks off from €229,517.
Pictures courtesy of Porsche Newsroom
